NHL Hockey Player News

Hunt skated in four straight games but played just 4:28 TOI as the No.7 defenseman on Thursday. He'll be replaced by Jake Lucchini, who will be making his Wild debut up front.

Lucchini was recalled prior to Thursday's game because Ryan Hartman was unavailable due to injury. Lucchini didn't play, as the Wild went with seven defensemen, but he'll replace Daemon Hunt in the lineup on Saturday. The 28-year-old has one goal in 11 career NHL games with the Senators and 20 points (9G / 11A) in 24 AHL games this season.

Hartman was scratched Thursday vs. the Canadiens and will miss his second straight game on Saturday. The Wild rolled with seven defensemen to replace Hartman vs. Montreal, but Jake Lucchini will make his Wild debut in his spot on Saturday.

Spurgeon was on the ice for the Wild's morning skate but will miss his sixth straight game on Saturday. With Spurgeon still sidelined, Dakota Mermis will remain on the Wild blueline. Expect Spurgeon to return shortly after the Christmas break.

Bastian, who took a maintenance day yesterday, was on the ice for the Devils' optional morning skate, but they are still unsure of his status for Saturday's game vs. the Red Wings. If he's unavailable, look for Chris Tierney to draw back into the Devils lineup.

Gardner has yet to appear in an NHL game with the Flyers this season and was sent back to the AHL with the team done their pre-Christmas schedule. The 27-year-old forward has just four points (3G / 1A) in 21 AHL games this season.

The Flyers finished their pre-Christmas schedule on Friday, so they have sent a couple of players back to the AHL. With Carter Hart back healthy, Petersen will likely remain in the AHL once the schedule resumes next week. Petersen has gone 4-6-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .898 SV% in 11 games with Lehigh Valley this season.

Swayman, as are the Bruins, is winless in his last two outings, but he will return to the crease on the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. Despite sporting only a .500 record in his last four (2-0-2), Swayman has a stellar .958 SV%, only allowing five total goals, and has been a victim of porous goal support from his team. The Bruins have lost four of their last six (2-1-3) and matchup evenly at -105 against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Quick has turned back time this season, grossly outplayed Igor Shesterkin, and will likely start for the Rangers on the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. The 37-year-old Quick has been nearly unbeatable this season, winning his last seven starts while posting a serviceable .916 SV%. Quick's 2.09 GAA and .926 SV% surpass anything he has ended the season with throughout his illustrious career. The Rangers will look for their fourth straight win as -116 home favourites against an Oilers team that snapped a three-game skid last night, courtesy of a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

The Marc Staal/Egor Zamula lineup carousel continues Friday as Staal will be a healthy scratch in Detroit as he continues to appear in every other game. The 36-year-old veteran defenceman has struggled this season, with an assist, four SOG, and eight PIMs in 14 games played thus far.

Zamula will continue his pattern of playing in every other game as he draws back into the Flyers' lineup Friday in Detroit for Marc Staal. The 23-year-old has taken a step forward with his game in 2023-24, with a goal, three assists, 21 SOG, 14 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 23 games played.

Samuel Ersson has started the last five games for the Flyers, including a 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators last night, as Hart has been recovering from an illness. Hart will return to the crease on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings as the 25-year-old netminder will search for his fourth straight win. Hart has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last three contests (3-0-0), posting a dazzling .958 SV%. The Flyers are +118 road underdogs on Friday against a Red Wings team that has scored only six goals over their last four games (0-4-0).